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Sale of Non-United States Accounts Receivable - Company's Accounts Receivables Programs (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
European RPA [Member]
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items]
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution	$ 191.5gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	$ 243.5gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program	169.4gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	215.4gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold	22.0gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	28.1gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Loss associated with the program	0.5us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	0.7us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution	123.4gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember		164.7gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Deferred purchase price liability related to accounts receivable sold	(12.6)gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember		(23.7)gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_NieuwAmsterdamReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Total RPAs [Member]
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items]
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution	203.1gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	259.3gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program	181.0gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	231.2gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold	22.0gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	28.1gef_DeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Loss associated with the program	0.5us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	0.7us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Expenses associated with the program		0.1gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution	128.4gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember		169.7gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Deferred purchase price liability related to accounts receivable sold	(12.6)gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember		(23.7)gef_DeferredPurchasePriceAssetLiabilityRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_ReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Other Receivables Purchase Agreement [Member]
Finance Receivable Transferred To Held For Sale [Line Items]
Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution	11.6gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	15.8gef_GrossAccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Cash received for accounts receivable sold under the program	11.6gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember	15.8gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Expenses associated with the program		0.1gef_ExpensesAssociatedWithAccountsReceivable / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Accounts receivable sold to and held by third party financial institution	5.0gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember		5.0gef_AccountsReceivableSoldToThirdPartyFinancialInstitution / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember
Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold	$ 0gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember		$ 0gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = gef_OtherReceivablesPurchaseAgreementMember

X

- Definition

Accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Deferred purchase price asset liability related to accounts receivable sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Expenses associated with accounts receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Gross accounts receivable sold to third party financial institution.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Proceeds from sale and collection of receivables from third party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gef_ProceedsFromSaleAndCollectionOfReceivablesFromThirdParty
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Uncollected deferred purchase price related to accounts receivable sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gef_UncollectedDeferredPurchasePriceRelatedToAccountsReceivableSold
Namespace Prefix:	gef_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Reflects the net positive or negative amount derived from subtracting from net proceeds of sale, the carrying amounts, net of allocated reserves, of accounts receivable transferred to a third party in a transaction that qualifies for sales treatment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=13989330&loc=d3e107425-111719

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

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